Egg dipper for use in egg decorating kit

ABSTRACT

An egg dipper for use in an egg decorating kit includes a handle and an egg holder portion pivotally attached to the handle and defining an opening for receiving at least a portion of an egg such that the egg is held by the holder portion. The handle and holder portion are formed of a plastic material and the handle pivots between an unlocked position and a locked position in which the handle is locked in place with respect to the holder portion.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to arts and crafts, and more particularly, to an egg dipper that is for use in an egg decorating kit for decorating eggs.

BACKGROUND

Egg decorating is the art or craft of decorating eggs. While egg decorating is often associated with Easter, it actually dates back much further in time. However, most people associate egg decorating with the Easter holiday and Easter eggs are specially decorated eggs given out to celebrate the Easter holiday or springtime. One of the oldest traditions used dyes to pain chicken eggs with colorful patterns. Easter eggs are a widely popular symbol of new life in the folk traditions of many Slavic countries and there are many other decoration techniques and numerous traditions of giving them as a token of friendship, love or good wishes. A tradition exists in some parts of the United Kingdom of rolling painted eggs down steep hills on Easter Sunday and in the U.S., the Easter Egg Roll has become a much-loved annual event on the White House lawn. An Easter egg hunt is a common festive activity, where eggs are hidden outdoors for children to run around and find the eggs.

The basic set-up for the egg decorating task is to place a coloring agent in a container and dip the egg in the coloring agent for a predetermined time till the coloring agent is transferred to the egg. This process applies a base color to the egg. In order to apply an initial base color or to provide a substantial surface of the egg with a color, a tool can be used to hold the egg as the color is applied. For example, the tool can hold the egg so as to permit at least a portion or the entire egg to be dipped into a container that contains the coloring, typically in the form of a liquid dye. One popular tool to perform this function is a bent metal wire structure (e.g., copper wire) that has an opening to receive and hold (cradle) the egg to permit it to be dipped into the liquid.

However, there are a number of limitations of using such a metal wire tool and in particular, because the tool is formed of a metal, such as copper, the cost of the tool is relatively expensive compared to other materials.

SUMMARY

An egg dipper for use in an egg decorating kit includes a handle and an egg holder portion pivotally attached to the handle. The holder portion defines an opening for receiving at least a portion of an egg such that the egg is held by the holder portion. The handle and holder portion are formed of a plastic material and the handle pivots between an unlocked position and a locked position in which the handle is locked in place with respect to the holder portion.

An egg dipper for use in an egg decorating kit includes a handle having a first locking feature and an egg holder portion pivotally attached to the handle about a living hinge. The holder portion has an opening for receiving at least a portion of an egg such that the egg is held by the holder portion. The holder portion has a second locking feature that engages the first locking feature in a releasable snap-fit manner to releasably lock the handle in an engaged state. The handle and holder portion are formed of a plastic material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an egg dipper according to one embodiment of the present invention in combination with a container filled with decorating liquid coloring;

FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the egg dipper of FIG. 1 in a disengaged, open state;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the egg dipper in the disengaged state; and

FIG. 4 is a local end view of a holder portion of the egg dipper.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an egg decorating kit 100 including a container 110, such as a cup or pail or the like, and an egg dipper 200 according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention that is constructed to hold an egg 120 (e.g., a cooled, hard-boiled egg) to permit decoration of the egg 120. The container 110 contains a liquid that includes a coloring agent, such as a dye, that serves to color the egg 120 when the egg 120 is exposed thereto. In one exemplary embodiment, the coloring agent is in the form of a food color that can be added to water to produce the coloring agent. The food colors can be provided in the form of tablets that can be added to the water in the container 110, with each tablet having an associated color, such as, blue, red, yellow, etc. If multiple colors are wanted, multiple containers 110 can be prepared with each container 110 holding its own decorating color. Thus, a package of color tablets is preferably included in the kit 100.

The container 110 is preferably formed of plastic and is in the form of a sturdy reusable cup. After use, the coloring agent is simply discarded and the container 110 is cleaned and is ready for use at a later time.

The egg dipper 200 represents a tool that is constructed to hold and move the egg 120 from one location to another location and in particular, the egg dipper 200 is used to lower the egg 120 into the coloring agent that is held by the container 110. FIGS. 2-4 illustrate the egg dipper 200 in greater detail and in particular, and as described below in greater detail, the egg dipper 200 is constructed so that is can be moved between a disengaged state, as shown in FIG. 2, and an engaged or locked state shown in FIG. 1.

The egg dipper 200 includes a handle 210 and a base holder portion 220 that is pivotally attached to the handle 210. The handle 210 is an elongated handle that has a distal end 214 and an opposite proximal end 216 and can be formed in any number of different shapes. The thickness of the handle 210 is such that it is flexible in nature.

The handle 210 can have decorative indicia formed thereon, such as, Holiday related characters (e.g., Easter related indicia) or cartoon related characters. The illustrated handle 210 is a rectangular-shaped handle that has an Easter bunny head 212 at the proximal end 216 of the handle 210 and along a length of the handle 210 from the distal end 214 toward the proximal end 216 of the handle 210, a plurality of cutouts 230 are formed in the handle 210. For example and as shown in FIG. 2, the cutouts 230 can be in the form of different shapes, such as a heart, a star, an oval (egg-shaped), circle, etc. It will be appreciated that the cutouts 230 can function as an integral stencil guide to permit various designs to be created on the dyed egg. In other words, after dipping and dying the egg 120, the user can remove the egg 120 from the dipper 200 and then bend the handle 210 so that one of the cutouts 230 is laid against the egg 120 to permit the user to stencil and transfer the shape of the cutout 230 onto the dyed egg 120.

According to one embodiment, the egg dipper 200, including the handle 210 and base portion 220, is formed of a plastic material, e.g., polyamide-6 and a copolymer polypropylene. Preferably, the egg dipper 200 is formed of an injection moldable material that permits the egg dipper 200 to be made by means of an injection molding process. This permits the egg dipper 200 to be manufactured in a much more cost effective manner compared to the production costs associated with conventional copper wire egg dippers.

The pivot between the handle 210 and the base portion 220 can be in the form of an integral hinge structure 240 that is formed at the distal end 214 of the handle 210. The hinge structure 240 can thus be in the form of an area that has a reduced thickness so as to create the hinge 240.

A first locking element 250, such as a protrusion or tab, is formed as part of the handle 210 near the distal end 214 thereof. The first locking element 250 can be in the form of a rectangular-shaped protrusion 252 that extends from a surface of the handle 210 at a ninety (90) degree angle. In other words, the protrusion 252 is formed perpendicular to the handle surface. At the free end of the protrusion 252, a catch or tang 254 is provided and extends outwardly from one side of the protrusion 252 so that it is formed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the protrusion 252 that extends the length of the protrusion 252. The catch 254 can have a generally triangular shape as shown.

The holder portion 220 is constructed to hold the egg 120 and therefore includes an opening 260 through which at least a portion of the egg 120 can be inserted and extend through. The holder portion 220 has a body 222 that is formed around the opening 260 so as to define the structure of the opening 260. The opening 260 is dimensioned to permit about one half (½) of the egg 120 to extend through the opening 260. In other words, the egg 120 is held about its middle region by the body 222 of the holder portion 220.

The body 222 is formed of a plurality of wall segments that are arranged end to end to define a hexagonal shape and thereby define the hexagonal shape opening 260. In other words, the body 222 is formed of a plurality of rail-like structures or walls 224 arranged to define the hexagonal shape with a pair of upper corners 221 closest the handle 210, a pair of middle corners 223 and a pair of lower corners 225. The rail-like structures 224 provide a flexible body since the thickness of width of each of the rails or walls 224 is such that each rail 224 can easily bend. In the illustrated embodiment, each rail 224 has a rectangular cross-section.

The body 222 can include a number of surface features that assist in holding the egg 120 in place. In particular, the body 222 can include a pair of rounded surface features 224 formed opposite one another at the pair of middle corners 223 and a pair of flats 226 that are formed in the upper corners 221 of the body 222.

The body 222 includes a base portion 270 that is formed adjacent and is connected to the hinge structure 240. The base portion 270 include a second locking element that is complementary to the first locking element 250 and is constructed to engage the first locking element 250 to lock the holder portion 220 to the handle 210. In one exemplary embodiment, the second locking element is in the form of an upstanding arch 280 that is part of the base portion 270 and is defined by two upstanding columns 282 and a cross member 284 that extends between the upper edges of the two spaced columns 282. An opening 286 is defined by the two columns 282 and a width of the opening 286 (the distance between inner edges of the columns 282) is greater than (e.g., slightly greater than) the width of both the protrusion 252 and the catch 254 to permit reception of these elements 252, 254 into the opening 286 between the columns 282.

More specifically, as either the handle 210 or the holder portion 220 is pivoted relative to the other one about the hinge structure 240, the protrusion 252 and catch 254 are pivoted toward the arch 280 and in particular, pivot toward the opening 286 such that further pivoting of the handle 210 and holder portion 220 causes the catch 254 to contact and travel down an inner surface or face 281 of the cross member 282 until the catch 254 is in registration with the opening 286 at which time, the catch 254 enters the opening 286.

In particular, the catch 254 includes a locking edge 255 that is an edge that is perpendicular to the protrusion 252 and a beveled edge 257 that terminates in the locking edge 255. As the handle 210 and the holder portion 220 are pivoted with respect to one another, the beveled edge 257 contacts the inner surface 281 of the cross member 282 that faces the handle 210 and further pivoting of the members 210, 220 causes the cross member 282 to ride along the beveled edge 257 toward the locking edge 255. Once the beveled edge 257 clears the cross member 282 and the beveled edge 257 enters the opening 286, the locking edge 255 clears the cross member 282 and enters the opening 286.

In addition, the inner surface 281 of the cross member 282 preferably is contoured to assist in the beveled edge 257 and locking edge 255 entering the opening 286. More specifically, the inner surface 281 contains a complementary beveled surface section or cutout 285 that is sloped so that when the beveled edge 257 engages and contacts the beveled surface 285, the beveled edge 257 rides therealong and is directed into the opening 286.

Once the locking edge 255 clears the cross member 282 and enters the opening 286, both the beveled edge 257 and the locking edge 255 now face an opposite outer surface or face 289 of the cross member and when the handle 210 is in a generally perpendicular position relative to the holder portion 220, the outer surface 289 and locking edge 255 are generally parallel to one another. Unlike the inner surface 281, the outer surface 289 is preferably a flat, planar surface and therefore, this outer surface 289 acts as an interference surface or locking surface. The resilient nature of the handle 210 and the hinge structure 240 causes the handle 210 to flex away from the holder portion 220 to cause the locking edge 255 to come into contact with the outer surface 289 above the opening 286 (the edge 255 and outer surface 289 are parallel and flush to one another). The locking edge 255 seats against the outer surface 289 and thereby locks the handle 210 in place in a vertical position as shown in FIG. 1.

In this locked position of FIG. 1, the handle 210 is ready for grasping by the user and the holder portion 220 is perpendicular to the handle 210 so that when egg 120 is disposed through the opening 260, the user can raise and lower the egg 120 by means of the handle 210.

To disengage the handle 210 from the holder portion 220, the handle 210 is moved forward toward the holder portion 220 so that an angle between the handle 210 and the holder portion 220 is less than 90 degrees, the locking edge 255 (and beveled edge 287) moves away from the outer surface 289 and back into registration with the opening 286. The protrusion 252 and catch 254 can then be manipulated to cause the catch 254 to enter and pass through the opening 286 so that the first locking element 250 disengages from the second locking element 280 and the handle 210 can then assume its flat position shown in FIG. 2.

The egg dipper 200 offers a number of advantages including a more economical design since it is made of plastic as opposed to metal and the egg dipper 200 is easy to assemble since the handle 210 is simple bent and snapped into place as described above. In addition, the dipper handle 210 can be used as a stencil to give more fun to create the decorating egg. It will also be appreciated that the egg dipper 200 can come in any number of different colors and can even be produced so that the egg dipper 200 is formed of more than one color (multi color egg dipper). 

1. An egg dipper for use in an egg decorating kit comprising: a handle; and an egg holder portion pivotally attached to the handle and defining an opening for receiving at least a portion of an egg such that the egg is held by the holder portion; wherein the handle and holder portion are formed of a plastic material and the handle pivots between an unlocked position and a locked position in which the handle is locked in place with respect to the holder portion.
 2. The egg dipper of claim 1, wherein the handle is pivotally attached to the holder portion about a living hinge.
 3. The egg dipper of claim 1, wherein each of the handle and holder portion is flexible due to its formation from a plastic material and its thickness.
 4. The egg dipper of claim 1, wherein the handle includes a plurality of shaped openings formed therethrough along a length thereof.
 5. The egg dipper of claim 4, wherein any two adjacent openings along the handle length have different shapes.
 6. The egg dipper of claim 1, wherein the handle includes a first locking element proximate a location where the handle is pivotally attached to the holder portion and the holder portion includes a second locking element proximate the location where the handle is pivotally attached to the holder portion, the first locking element being releasably snap-fit with the second locking element to lock the handle in the locked position.
 7. The egg dipper of claim 6, wherein the first locking element comprises a protrusion that extends outwardly from the handle and includes a catch at a distal end thereof and the second locking element comprises an arch having an opening formed therein for receiving the catch so as to lock the handle in the locked position.
 8. The egg dipper of claim 7, wherein the catch includes a beveled edge that leads to a locking edge that is perpendicular to the protrusion such that in the locked position, the locking edge seats flush against an outer surface of the arch so as to lock the handle in place with respect to the holder portion.
 9. The egg dipper of claim 8, wherein an inner surface of the arch includes a section with a beveled surface that leads to the opening and is complementary to the beveled edge so that as the handle is pivoted with respect to the holder portion, the beveled edge rides along the beveled surface into and through the opening of the arch so as to position the locking edge in a facing relationship with respect to the outer surface of the arch.
 10. The egg dipper of claim 8, wherein the locking edge is at least substantially parallel to the outer surface of the arch in the locked position, the outer surface facing the opening formed in the holder portion that receives the egg.
 11. The egg dipper of claim 7, wherein a width of the opening in the arch is greater than a width of the protrusion and catch.
 12. The egg dipper of claim 7, wherein the arch includes a pair of upstanding side walls and a cross wall member extending between the side walls with the opening being defined between the side walls and below the cross wall member, wherein in the locked position, the catch seats against the cross wall member.
 13. The egg dipper of claim 1, wherein the holder portion includes a plurality of interconnected rails that are arranged according to a predetermined shape to define the opening in the holder portion.
 14. The egg dipper of claim 13, wherein the predetermined shape is a hexagon.
 15. The egg dipper of claim 13, wherein the plurality of interconnected walls includes first egg retention features formed as a part thereof and second egg retention features formed as a part thereof for holding the egg in the opening of the holder portion.
 16. The egg dipper of claim 15, wherein the first egg retention features comprise a pair of rounded surfaces formed opposite one another on inner edges of the interconnected walls and the second egg retention features comprise a pair of flats formed in two corners of the interconnected walls.
 17. The egg dipper of claim 1, wherein the handle is readily bendable and includes indicia formed thereon and stencil openings formed therein linearly along a length of the handle to permit stenciling on the egg.
 18. An egg dipper for use in an egg decorating kit comprising: a handle having a first locking feature; and an egg holder portion pivotally attached to the handle about a living hinge and having an opening for receiving at least a portion of an egg such that the egg is held by the holder portion, the holder portion having a second locking feature that engages the first locking feature in a releasable snap-fit manner to releasably lock the handle in an engaged state; wherein the handle and holder portion are formed of a plastic material.
 19. The egg dipper of claim 18, wherein the first locking feature includes a catch and the second locking feature comprises an upstanding structure with an opening that receives the catch.
 20. An egg decorating kit comprising: a container for holding a coloring solution; at least one solid dye tablet for mixing with water in the container to form the coloring solution; and an egg dipper including: a handle; and an egg holder portion pivotally attached to the handle and defining an opening for receiving at least a portion of an egg such that the egg is held by the holder portion; wherein the handle and holder portion are formed of a plastic material and the handle pivots between an unlock position and a locked position in which the handle is locked in place with respect to the holder portion. 